Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1887-04-30

- hAN -
at twilight, on the forest road, and the
base attack always confined TO the
wealthy. intimate frequenters of the
castle. Within afortnight no less than
eight of these fearless assaults had
been successfully accomplished, as
guests went to or from the Counts
residence. the closest investigation and
vigilance proving utterly futile to dis
cover the expert highwayman.
And not one of the victims had either
possessed the courage, or thought 1t
wise, to show fight; obeying the man
date of the %imperious voice, each in
turn had with alacrity resigned his
purse. A few, it is true, had mani
tested sufficient bravery to look back
in their hasty flight, and were thus en-
abled to give some information con-
corning the appearance of the scoun-
drel as he stepped forward to take pos
session of his booty; and in every
instance he was depicted as a mar of
gigantic size, wearing a mask-a KIND
of demon in human form, upon whom.
it was evident, a pistol shot or sword
thrust would prove harmless. Some
had even been armed at the time of at
tack, but considered it useless to avail
themselves of the advantage.
Count Mirabeau laughed heartily
over the stories of the bandit, and
rallied numerically the faint-hearted
knights of Limousin for thus permit
ting themselves to be plundered by a
country ~vagabond; but they resolutely
rejoincd that he would prove no more
courageous than they, if once at
tackled. In vain Mirabeau assured
them that he roamed the forest daily,
hoping to encounter the mysterious
freebooter, and that nothing would
afford him greater pleasure than &
meeting, when he would engage to de
liver him Il prisoner at the castle.
Meanwhile the proper authorities
were bynomeans dilatory ornegligcnt
every effort was diligently employed t.
discover the author of the outrages
but in vain. He remained cnshroudeC
in impcnetrable mystery.
1t was late in the evening of the fiji
teenth of November that the Marqui
of Charras, Il worthy nobleman, o
middle age, rode slowly on his way t.
Castle Saillant. Twilight had alread,
fallen on the forest; it was perfcctl'
still, and the stars shining seronel,,
overhead, while the full moon rose il
majestic beauty, lighting the tree
with fantastic splendor, as the fallin!
leaves foated silently from the dyini
branches.
The insecurity of the path he travele'
was well known to the Marquis, and
advancing deeper into the woods, h
spurred his horse to faster speed, in
wardly wishing that he had not ven
turcd thus into the solitude alone.
Nor did the wish prove a needles
one; scarcely had he proceeded a hun
dred steps further when the click of
gun hammer startled him, and the mex
instant the muzzle of the weapon wa
bearing close upon him, while a dar
form suddenly appeared beneath
towering oak, and in a calm, resolut
voice ordered:
HALT! Your purse, my lord, or 20
stir not further"
, Instantly the Marquis realized thu
he stood faced by the same dilemm
ruthlessly forced upon many bcfor
, him, and quite as reluctant as they t
, sacrifice his life for the small sum i
q carried, scornfully cast his purse upo
q the ground. riding slowly forward, bl
{ saying, as he did Il:
you follow a risky trade, fellow;
y warrant it will yet bring you to til
gallows!'
That's my risk replied the higl
h wayman, coolly advancing from II
shadow of the oak into the clear moo
4 light to seize the purse.
q But just as he stopped for the pri;
= the fastening of his mask sudden.
' snapped, and it dropped to the groun'
! leaving his face clearly revealed;
4 the same moment the Marquis aga
looked back, and the woods echo,
+ with a startled cry of establishment.
Can it be possible?" he cried, GA
ing as though paralyzed with bewilde
ment. 'Who could ever have su
i pccted this? Despicable man, you a
- at last discovered, and now an end
your rascally deeds!'
= The bandit, with no show of confusio
% however; merely smiled, and pointil
70 his gun thrcatcningly at the Marqui
the latter put spurs to his horse al
- sped onward to the castle.
l.. "And now this fine support mu
q. really come to an end, suppose" sa
:. the robber, quietly; ''How unfort
q nate! 1t has afforded me intini
u amusement And turning into a b
" path, he also directed his steps towm'
N the castle.
Breathless, the Marquis arrived
l. the house, but finding the Count a
# sent. proceeded as quietly as he cou
to the saloon, where II number of
acquaintance were assembled arour
the hostess, who was gracefully DOH
the hon0rs of the house.
:. Although carefully depressing all 9
fusion to his recent adventure, he cou
@ not escape remark upon his abstract'
silence, and some joked him upon h
a humor; but he could only cast sa
d compassionate chances toward Il
IS Countess, as she chatted gayly, utter
l. unconscious of the cloud above her.
l. Ringing at last for a servant, she i
T. quired if her brother, the Count, h;
b. yet returned from hunting, and recei
1t ing in reply the information that he h;
N but just arrived, and had gone to
m room, leaving his excuses ON the pl,
of severe headache. An hour lat
IF Count de Saillant returned, and hi
lie scarcely finished his cordial greetin
X when the Marquis requested an into
,r view. and the two Withdraw IN an n